Extension-table



R. MAINARDI. EXTENSIONTABLE.

3 Sheets-ESheeir 1.

(No Model.)

No. 508,628. Pltented Noir. 14,1893

1% Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 2. R. MAINARDI.

EXTENSION TABLE.

Patented Nov. 14, 1893. 5,

' (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

R. MAQINAR'DI.

- EXTENSION TABLE. No. 508,628. Patented Nov. 14, 1893.

I} 65 W J ma NATIONAL umoerupnma COMPANY.

wnsnmemu. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROMOLO MAINARDI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINoIs.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent Iva-508,628, dated November 14, 1893.

Application filed August 6, 1892.

T0 at whom it-may concern.-

Be it known that I, RoMoLo MAINARDI, a sub eet of the King of Italy, residing at Chicago, 1n the county of Cook and State of Illi- 1101s, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension-Tables, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to improvements in extension tables, and consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, operation and novel arrangement of the various parts there of, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The objects of my invention are first, to provide a table which shall be simple in construction, efiective in operation, strong and durable, and will, when not extended be in a compact form, and will present an attractive appearance; and second, a table which may be readily extended so as to accommodate a large number of guests, without removing the table ware, which may have been already placed on the table.

In order to enable others skilled in the art, to whiohmy invention pertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe 1t referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figurel, is a view in side elevationof my table partly extended. Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional View, taken on line 2, 2, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a plan view of the table,with a portion of the upper surface broken away, show- Ing a portion of the extending mechanism. Flg. 4, is a View in side elevation of the extensible braces, and a portion of their legs, showing the manner of locking the same. Flg. 5, is a cross sectional view, taken on line 0, 5, of Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 1, taken on line 6, 6, and Fig. 7, 1s a bottom View of a portion of the table or supporting surface.

Similar letters refer to likeparts throughout the different views of the drawings.

A, represents the main frame of 'my table,

which is supported at one end, by means of legs a, which are secured to the corners of the frame in any suitable manner, and at the center and other end, by means of supports B, Whichare detaehably secured to the side edges of the table by means of screws or otherwise, and are provided at'their upper portion with arms I), which extend in the opposite direction from the legs a, and form a support for the other end of the frame A, as will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 1, of the drawings. The centers of the supports B, are formed or provided with bearings b, o for the receptiou'and retention of the shafts C, C, of the cylinder O ,to which is secured one end of a sheet of metal or other suitable flexible material D, which forms the supporting surface of the table, as will be presently explained. As shown in the drawings the cylinder O is hollow. There is extended into said hollow, through the end C the shaft 0', the outer end of which is preferably formed quadrilateral, to adapt it to fit in a similarly formed bearing 19 in one of the supports B, and be prevented from turning. At or near the free end of the shaft 0, is secured a spring E, which encircles the shaft, and is secured at its other end to the end C of the cylinder C as is seen in Fig. 6. To the outer surface of the end 0 of the cylinder, is secured a pawl 0 which engages with a ratchet-wheel c fixed on the shaft 0', near its end, to prevent the cylinder turning when the spring E, is wound up. At the other end of the cylinder C is provided a shaft or projection O, which operates in a circular bearing b, in the other support B. The shaft or projection O, is rigidly secured to the end of the cylinder, while the shaft 0?, passes through the opposite end thereof, and allows the cylinder to turn thereon. My object in rigidly securing the shaft 0, to the cylinder 0 is, that I may sometimes dispense with the spring E, and wind the sheet of metal D, by means ofa crank handle,.which may be applied to the end of the shaft C, which may be projected slightly for this purpose. To, and between, the ends of the arms I), is journaled a roller or sheave 0, over which passes the metal sheet D, as it is on wound or unwound from the cylinder.

The frame A, may be made of any suitable size, form and material, but is preferably constructed rectangular in form and of metal, and has on the upper surface of each side, an inwardly extending flange or plate d, beneath which pass the edges of the metal sheet D, and which are thus formed and placed, to keep the edges of the said sheet in position.

On the upper surface of the bottom of the frame A, and near each side thereof, are provided longitudinal grooves d, which extend from one end to the other of the frame.

Within these grooves are journaled anumber of rollers 0, upon which thesheet D, will rest, and by means of which the same may be more readily drawn out or wound up. The free end of the sheet D, is secured to a cross piece F, which has secured near each end, a leg a, which fits within the hollow or shelllegs a, on the corners of the frame A, when the table is in its compact form, the legs a, being made concave on their outer surfaces for this purpose. The end of the frame A, opposite the roller 0, is provided with a number of longitudinal slots g, which receive and retain the upper portion of the legs, as shown in Fig. 5. The outer ends of the braces G, are formed rectangular as at 2", and have secured to their lower portions, legs a which are reduced, or formed with recesses 9 on each side at their upper portionsto fit in the slots g, and are provided at their lower ends, with casters it in order that they may be more readily moved. The lower surfaces of the shanks g, of the braces G, are roughened or formed with teeth It, for engagement with the catches H, which are loosely secured to the braces D, which braces are secured transversely to the lower surface of the sheet D, and are provided at proper points,with depressions or mortises H, for the reception of the catches H, when the sheet D, is being wound on the 5 cylinder C The catches H, are preferably formed V shaped, as shown in Fig. 5, and may have their ends formed into hooks h, to engage with eyes or openings h in the braces D, or they may be otherwise secured to said braces. It will therefore be seen that as the sheet D, is drawn out, the advance catches H, will engage the legs a and drag the same therewith, which by reason of the friction on the fioor will assume a position slightly out of 5 plumb, thus causing the remaining catches in alignmentwith thefront or advance catch tobe inert, or to depend on account of their gravity. When the curtain or sheet D, is retracted or in the act of being closed, the legs 0. from the reverse friction on the floor, will assume an opposite inclination, and thus cause the catches, which in the above operation have been inactive to engage with the serrations or teeth on the braces G, while the advance 5 5 catches, which have recently engaged the legs will hang vertically. The upper surface or head 9 of the braces G, are formed or provided at proper points to engage with the braces D, with recesses i, so that when the sheet D, is drawn out, the inner or pointed ends of the braces G, will pass within the bifurcation of the catches H, until the foremost catches engage with the enlarged or rectangular ends 11, of the braces G, when the braces D,will fall into the recesses z', and thus firmly hold the upper surfaces of the braces G, in a flush position, or in contact with the under surface of the sheet D.

By reference to Figs. 2, and 3, of the drawings, it will be seen and understood that I may employ any number of slots and extending braces, and that the same will be regulated in quantity by the degree of extension of the table desired. That is, if a short extension only is desired, then only two slots and two corresponding braces will be required, and for about every six feet of additional extension, two more slots in the bottom of the frame A, and two more braces G, with their legs a will be necessary to properly support the table.

While I prefer to make the sheet D, of thin steel, and provide the outersurface thereof with a soft covering, yet I may use other material for the supporting sheet or surface.

It will be seen in Fig. 7, that the series M, of catches H, .which are designed to engage with the second series M, of braces G, are located farther from the ends of the braces D, or nearer the center thereof, so that they will engage in the withdrawal of the sheet D, with the second series M of braces G, which are placed in their slots 9, somewhat nearer the center of the bottom of the main frame, and it will be understood that the same arrangement is observed throughout the entire series.

The operation of my table is simple, and as follows: The sheet D, is wound on the cylinder 0*, which is journaled as above set forth, in the supports B, and is then passed over the roller 0, and beneath the plates or flanges b, of the frame A, which flanges form a guideway for said sheet. The free end of the sheet is then secured to the cross piece F, which is provided on its outer surface with a hand piece f, to enable the operator to more readily draw the sheet out, which is done by pulling on the handle f, when the first two catches H, located near each end of the braces D, will engage with the extending braces G, as shown in Fig. 4, and draw the same together with their legs a forward to the desired position. If it is desired to farther extend the table, the sheet is again drawn out when the second series of catches will engage, the corresponding series of braces and so on, till the required length is obtained. It will be understood that in the extension or withdrawal of the sheet D, the spring E, will be wound up or tightened, and will be held in such a contracted position by means of the pawl 0 which engages with the ratchet wheel a and that when it is desired to shorten the table, the said spring may be released by disengaging the pawl from the ratchet, when it, the spring, will cause the cylinder to revolve and to wind the sheet D, thereon.

While I prefer to use the spring E, to automatically wind the sheet, yet I do not desire to limit myself to said construction, as I may dispense with it and wind the sheet by means of a crank handle applied to the end of the shaft C, which may beformed with a projec tion for this purpose.

It is obvious, that when the table is in its compact form, a portion of the sheet D, of the length of the main frame A, will remain in a straight position in said frame and form the supporting surface upon which may be placed the table-ware, and in order to strengthen this portion of the sheet when it is drawn out, 1 secure longitudinally-on its lower surface, near each side a iece D which will prevent the sheet from sagging as is apparent. In order that this portion of the sheet D, may be extended without interfering with or displacing the table-ware thereon by means of the piece 01 which extends from one of the ends to the other of the plates or flanges d, of the main frame A, I detachably secure the cross piece (1 to said ends by means of screws or otherwise, which will allow it to be removed and replaced at pleasure.

Havingthus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an extension table, the combination of the main frame A, having the slots 9, grooves (1, provided with rollers e, and guide-plates d, with the supports B, having the arms I), the roller 0, journaled on said arms, the cylinder 0 having the shafts (J, and C, journaled in the supports B, the supporting sheet D, se-

cured at one end to the cylinder and at the other to the piece F, having supporting legs,

the extending braces G, having the legs 61?,

with recesses 9 to fit in the slots g, the series. of catches H, secured to the lower surface of shaft of the cylinder, the cylinder C journaled on the supports B, the roller or'sheave c, journaled at one end of the frame A, the supporting sheet D, secured at one end tothe cylinder and at the other end to a cross-plece F, having supporting legs, and having the transverse braces D, the extending braces G, having the recesses t', to receive the braces D, on their upper surfaces, and the legs a having the recesses 9 to fit in the slots g, secured to their lower surfaces, the series of catches H, secured to the braces D, to engage with the braces G, all constructed, arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an extension table, the combination of the main frame A, having the slots g, the grooves (1, provided with rollers e, and guideplate's cl, with the supports B, having the arms I), the roller 0, journaled on said arms, the cylinder 0 having the shafts O, and C, journaled in the supports B,the ratchet-wheel secured on the shaft 0, the spring E, within the cylinder, the pawl 0 to engage the ratchetwheel 0 the supporting sheet D, secured at one end to the cylinder, and at the other to the piece F, having supporting legs, said sheet having transverse braces D, and longitudinal braces D the extending braces G, having the recesses 11, to receive the braces D, on their upper surfaces, and the teeth It, to engage the catches H, the legs a having the recesses g, to fit in the slots g, the series of catches H, secured to the braces D, to engage the braces G, the piece (i detachably secured to the main frame A, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth..

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of July, A. D. 1892.

ROMOLO MAINARDI.

In presence of- CHAS. O. TILLMAN, E. A. DUGGAN. 

